Xbox One DRM for used games, 24 hour check-ins reversed

Written by Brandon Hofer on June 19, 2013

Xbox One News: Xbox One policies will be reversed amid backlash; No online check-in and used games will work as they do today on the Xbox 360.

UPDATE: 2:01pm - Don Mattrick confirms change in Xbox One policies.

A few minutes after we posted the story below Microsoft came out with official confirmation. Here is what Don Mattrick said,

"Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.

Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One.

You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions.

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.

We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year."

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Original story:

Microsoft has tried to usher in a lot of new policies with Xbox One and has upset a lot of people in doing so. Speaking with various outlets over the past few weeks, Microsoft has said it is listening to consumer feedback and if the new rumors are true then it appears Microsoft has changed course with the Xbox One, according to Patrick Klepek over at Giant Bomb What exactly does this mean? If the rumors turn out to be true then it means:

No more always online requirement

The console no longer has to check in every 24 hours

All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360

Authentication is no longer necessary

An internet connection is only required when initially setting up the console

All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline

No additional restrictions on trading games or loaning discs

Region locks have been dropped

If these rumors turn out to be true then it is going to be the cause of celebration for most people. Still though, it would also mean the potential loss of some of the new policies that actually were really cool and would have been really beneficial. Up until this point we were going to be allowed to share our gaming libraries with 10 “family members.” That would have meant instead of bringing over 10 games to your friend’s house to play you would have had access to your entire library there. It is the iPod analogy where instead of carrying 20 music CDs you only had to carry one device that had all 100 of your music albums. It would have meant if you live in California but have family that live in New York then they could still gain access to your library and “borrow” games from you. While there hasn’t been any type of announcement saying that this new feature is going away I can’t see it remaining if these new rumors do indeed happen.

Certainly removing the online check-in every 24 hours is big news for those who don’t have steady Internet. Being able to play your single player games offline is also really big too, especially if you are the type of person to take your console with you on vacation or, more importantly, if you happen to serve in the military and are on a base with no internet. Region locks potentially being dropped would be great too so gamers can import titles that might not be released in their region for any number of reasons.

If everything works on the Xbox One as it does today on the Xbox 360 that is undeniably a good thing. Microsoft was getting raked over the coals by a lot of misinformation that was on the Internet. The company must shoulder the blame for that misinformation being out there but there are others who have been spreading the misinformation as well. The bottom line though is that Microsoft was taking a beating with the hardcore gaming audience and it has, apparently, forced them to backpedal on their ambitious plans with the Xbox One. Whether that actually turns out to be a good thing in the long run remains to be seen.

Please keep in mind that these are only rumors and speculation at this point. None of this is fact yet. What do you think? If you had previously written off Xbox One, would this make you consider getting it?

Source: Giant Bomb